Sevilla president Jose Maria Del Nido has revealed that the club held talks with Jose Mourinho about the possibility of succeeding Juande Ramos, but the former Chelsea boss’ representatives have dismissed the reports.
Ramos left Sevilla just a month after Mourinho departed Stamford Bridge in September last year, and Del Nido claims talks were held with Mourinho, only for his demands of €10 million to scupper negotiations. As a result of the abortive talks, the club turned to Manolo Jimenez as Ramos’ successor.
“There was another solution that was Mourinho, that requested to us, through an intermediary, 10 million euros (£7.5m) gross,” Del Nido said on the club’s official website.
“We all trusted Jimenez. We understood that he was the one that knew the first team the most. It was the option for the next season. I am convinced that he will prevail in Seville.”
Del Nido’s claims drew an angry response from Mourinho’s camp – who denied any contact with the Spanish side.
“We demand that he says the name of the intermediary,” Eladio Parames, one of Mourinho’s advisors, told Lusa Agency.
“He must be distracted and cannot know the world of football well because if he did he would know clearly who is the representative of Jose Mourinho.
“He would also know that a manager who rejects invitations of great clubs and national associations would hardly go to work for a president who has little knowledge of what passes in the world of football.”